Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      The man whose head the barber was cutting was Tahmasb Mirza whose moustache was newly growing.

      …In the middle of the cell covered with the carpet of Tabriz there was placed a splendid bed. On the wall hung a carpet and there was hung a loaded rifle and the sword which was said to belong to Shah Abbas I. In the corner of the cell there were wall-cupboards and a mirror.

      The barber Yusif was serving the Shahzade since his childhood years. They could find much to talk about. Last time, the barber felt some change in the Shahzade. He was always thoughtful. The barber thought it might be the Shahzade was thinking about the future of the state after being announced the Shah.

      The Shahzade himself broke the silence.

      – What news, barber Yusif?

      The barber Yusif didn’t stop:

      – I wish you long life and health! I beseech you!

      The barber used to say him “I beseech you” in his own dialect and Tahmasb Mirza very much liked his way of speaking. Though his head was under the razor, he couldn’t help laughing. When he shouted with laughter, the barber raised his head up:

      – Your Majesty! Don’t laugh; I may notch your skin.

      – Well, well, my barber, don’t stop! What about the people? What about are they gossiping in the streets and bath-houses?

      – What do you mean? (The barber said in dialect)

      That time the Shahzade couldn’t help laughing:

      – About the last events....That is to say about the succes-

      sors to the throne, about Mahmud khan of Qandahar… I wonder will the people defend Isfahan or not?

      – Don’t you know the common people? They talk about what they hear. Everybody speaks his own opinion. If they leave the common people self-willed the country can be destroyed, I beseech you!

      The Shahzade again began to laugh. The barber stopped again. The Shahzade said laughing:

      – Continue, barber, and don’t stop! Continue both your conversation and your work. I shall not laugh.

      The barber Yusif began to cut:

      – I say, Your Majesty, if even a dead body is self-willed he can rise from the grave.

      – What do you want to say, barber Yusif?

      The barber Yusif was a bit frightened:

      – Nothing, Your Majesty! It is only a saying. I repeated.

      No, barber Yusif! I understood the meanlng of your words. You wanted to say that the people should not be left without control. It is necessary to bring the people together and to be their head, isn’t it?

      – To tell the truth, the people of Isfahan began to be frightened from Mahmud khan of Qandahar. Because the Afghans occupied the beloved residence of our Shah Sultan Husain, that is to say Farhadabad. The people wonder who will defend them. They say that after Farhadabad that bloodsucker is planning to come to Isfahan.

      – What other words do the people say?

      – They also tell that as soon as Mahmud approaches Isfahan the Shahzades will run.

      The Shahzade looked as though he didn’t hear the last words of the barber:

      – The Shahzades have nothing to do with this problem. It isn’t their responsibility. Our Shah is here.

      The barber was going to finish his work.

      – I don’t say these words, Your Majesty! The people gos- sip thus.

      Then the Shahzade said nothing. He took the sides of the mirror which were dyed in water of silver and looked at his bald head. As before the barber had done his work skill – fully. When the servants saw that barber had finished his work they brought wash-basin and a towel. The Shahzade bent his head on the wash-basin and one of the servants poured water and began to wash his head. Though the water was fin-shed from the can the Shahzade didn’t raise his head and another servant dried his head with the towel.

      The Shahzade took the mirror again and looked at his reflection in the mirror. Then he sleeked his bald head with his left hand. When the servants left the cell, the Shahzade turned to the barber Yusif and said: “You may go now”. Then he wore his Qizilbash turban. Just at that moment one of the man-servants entered and informed him about the coming of Fatali khan. It was as if the Shahzade was waiting for him. He said: “Let him come in”.

      Fatali khan came in and looked at the handsome Shahzade and bowed to him.

      Tahmasb Mirza was really a handsome young boy. The turban of Qizilbash suited him very well. His broad shoulder matched his tall figure. His brows and face were as if they were the same as those of Shah Abbas II. What a pity, he wasn’t born to rule the state! Fatali khan thought all about this in his mind but he said anything. Fatali khan had his own purpose. He thought that all this lack of cont rol wouldn’t last much longer. He believed that soon all would be in order. At that time Fatali khan would turn to one of the close friends of the future Shah so as not to leave him in his troubled days.

      The Shahzade broke the silence:

      – What news, Fatali khan?

      Fatali khan whispered in a low voice:

      – All is ready, Your Majesty! Two hundred beys of Qajar have come from Tabriz and are waiting at the walls of fortress for your order.

      At this it seemed the Shahzade was a little frightened:

      – To my mind the number of the beys is more. Isn’t it, Fatali khan? We need to feed them, to place them some t where.

      – What? But I think, the number of the beys is fewer. Two hundred beys are fewer for the successor to the throne. Let those who meet you see that how many followers there are around you.

      The Shahzade thought for a while and said:

      – Let it be how you advise.

      – Your Majesty, you mustn’t worry! I have prepared all that is necessary.

      – Where are we going?

      – To Qazvin, Your Majesty!

      – When are we leaving?

      – At midnight we shall go to the outskirts of the city by a secret way, Your Majesty!

      The Shahzade raised his brows:

      – Shall we go this way? Is that way too fearful? I never went on that way.

      Fatali khan smiled:

      – Your Majesty, I shall be near your!

      – Well, at midnight!

      – Yes, Your Majesty! Now allow me to go and prepare. I shall come to take you at СКАЧАТЬ